Pneumatic cannon



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, PNEUMATIC CANNON.

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(No Model) Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

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PNEUMATIC CANNON. NO. 308,945.

Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

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iJ'NrTED STATES PATENT Grater.

\VALLAGE A. BARTLETT, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

PNEUMATIC CANNON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,945, dated December 9, 1884.

" Application filed October 7, 1884. (No modem To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLAor. A. BART- LETT, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cannon, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to pneumatic and similar cannon;.and it consists in thecombinations and details of construction hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

The object of the invention is to produce a gun for throwing projectiles at short range, to extinguish files, and for similar purposes. (Such a projectile, for instance, as is shown. in myapplicat-ion No. 144,636,*filed--0ctober 3, 1884.) I make special arrangement for the quick training of the gun for high elevations, and for a lateral traverse of snftlcient amplitude to enable the gunner to command several of the windows of a building without moving the trail or support of the gun-carriage.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the gun-tube, flask, and connections. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof, showing other features hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the flask and elevating-screw. Fig. 4 is a section of end cap of flask. Fig. 5 is a plan of carriage, the gun-tube and other portions being broken away. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation partly in section of a gun on carriage. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of carriage and training devices, the gun-tube being omitted.

A designates the flask, which is a cylinder trunnioned at the ends, and having an inlet for-compressed air or gas through one of the, trunnions B, the inlet-pipe being preferably provided with a cock,as G, and connecting to the compressor or gas-supply by a pipe, as D, which may be either flexible or jointed, and the trunnion movement allowed for by a swivel. The barrel or tube E isfa'stened to the trunnioned flask, a saddle being interposed, and the tube is secured firmly to the barrel by soldering, brazing, or by clamps passing round the flask and tube. Asupplypipe, F F, leads from the flask Ato a breechsleeve, H, which carries the breech-closing mechanism of any usual system, the valve G being interposed and serving as an operating-valvc.- A sleeve or collar, 1, on the barrel serves as a means of attachment for brass rods K K, which are attached to projections L L from the flask, or from collars or caps thereon. If attached to the end caps, the rotation of the caps will draw on the rods, and so lift the barrel, and the flask-body will thus be relieved of torsional strain.

For convenience of construction the ends of the cylindrical flask A are closed by caps M M, the one, B having on its peripherya sector of a gear, N, which engages with a worm, O, on shaft I, so that by the {revolution of the screw the flask may be oscillated on its trunnions; but the flask and heads may be cast solid. The shaft 1? has its bearings in 'the'check-piece'a whichis secured to cross plate b, and with the check-piece a forms the supporting-frame. This frame is pivoted at 0, so that the entire frame and gun may have a side oscillation around pivot c, the rear end I of the frame being supported by projections d from the axle c. The frame and gun may thus be. swung far enough to command two or three windows in the front of a building.

i of which may extend to the sides, so that 5 the compressor may be operated by the handlevers without interfering with the working of the gun. The position of the gunner at the breech of the gun gives him full control for the purpose ofloading, aiming, and .firing- I without impediment or obstruction from the trail or compressor.

By reason of placing the tube or barrel at. right angles to the cyliudricalflask I am en- 'abled to train the gun by simply rolling the flaskon its axis, requiring less movement of ICO struction shown, however, is the one I prefer.

I claim .I,; 1. In a pneumatic or similar cannon, a eylindrical flask trunnioned at its ends, a tube 5 or barrel secured thereto, and a supply-pipe leading from the flask to the tube, all in combination, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a cylindrical flask trunnioned at its ends, of a gun-tube secured 1o beneath the same, a supply-pipe leading from the flask to the tube, and a valve in the supply-pipe, all substantially as stated.

8. The combination, with a cylindrical flask trunnioned at its ends, and a gun-tube se- 15 cured thereto, and having suitable connections, of a rotating mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the flask may be partially revolved, and the muzzle of the gun elevated or depressed, as set forth.

2o 4. The combination, with a cylindrical flask trunnioned at the ends, and a gun-tube and connections secured to said flask, of a rack on the flask and a worm-wheel engaging therewith, so that the revolution of the worm 2 5 will rock the flask, substantially as-described.

5. The combination, with a cylindrical flask trunnioned at its ends, and a gun-tube and connections attached thereto, of a pivoted supporting-frame for the trunnions, substantially as described. 0

6. The combination, with acylindrieal flask trunnioned at its ends and a gun-tube secured thereto at right angles, of supporting-rods leading from the ends of the flask to a point on the barrel forward of the flask, substan- 5 tially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the cylindrical flask, pivoted at its ends, of a'gun-tube secured at right angles thereto, a rack and engaging-worm for rotating the flask, and the 40 rods reaching forward from the heads of the flask to support the tube, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALLACEA'A. BARTLETT. Witnesses: I

M. L. WILLIAMS, E. L. XVHITE. 

